Soy Isoflavones..yay or nay?

[moly39x]

Been doing some research on soy isoflavones & I didn't know what people's opinions are?

I have a 35 day cycle, ovulate between CD17-21 - currently 7th month in of TTC after 1 early loss at 5 week in October.

Do people have any experience with taking them? I read the following on an old thread here about with CD to take them..

My concerns are; I have little/none EWCM (have conceive plus lube) but I get positive OPK every month (temping just stressed me out which I decided would do more harm?!) and I'm sure soy iso is to help ovulate? But now I've read the below, it looks as though it can help the egg. I'm cautious about messing up my cycle so was just looking to hear other people's experience.

Here's the info I've read here (have lots more saved in my notes if people want to see about the dose etc if interest) :)

Thank you x

1-5 = you produce more eggs, and ovulate sooner, with a stronger ovulation.

2-6 = you produce more eggs that usual, but not as many as taking it 1-5. Eggs may be more mature, and ovulation will be slightly more strong than 1-5.

3-7 = The best of both worlds, a few more eggs, and all eggs will be strong & mature, and ovulation will be alot stronger than 1-5.

4-8 = No more eggs will be produced, but the ones already there, will be matured alot more than usual, and ovulation will be very strong. Ovulation may only be brought forward a teeny bit.

5-9 = You'll have one very mature strong egg, from the ones you already produced on your own. Ovulation will either happen when it usually does, or a few days later, but your egg will be of great quality.

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 I'm not sure if anything's going to work for me to be honest, I've suspected endometriosis and getting pregnant with it is notoriously hard even without my geriatric age, each month my symptoms seem to be worse and I've got to wait until nov to even speak to a gynaecologist let alone be seen then have to wait god knows how long for an appointment for a laparoscopy too so realistically looking at 18 months to get the endo removed then just have to hope that helps enough for me to get a bfp and I won't be too old by then! (Will be 43 by then almost 44)

@Marvellouslymadmum my skin (chin specifically) has been awful with non stop spots this cycle, didn't even consider it being due to soy! I feel it's slightly clearing up now but I bet that just jinxed it. My boobs are also really painful atm which is an on off symptom for me before my period.

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 I enjoy poas too much to stop 😂 seeing negatives (this cycle anyways) hasn't gotten me down either so it's more so for information (and addiction lol). Tbh I will be shocked if it doesn't because I've been convinced the whole way through my cycle that I will get it. Cramps have eased off now which is a bit odd. I didn't poas this morning and you're making me wonder whether I should now 😂

@Marvellouslymadmum that's really rubbish about the long wait times for a laparoscopy, I'm so sorry. I don't know much about it, but was just thinking if you have suspected endometriosis maybe soy isn't very good for you because it enhances estrogen response, which may not be what you need? Sorry if this sounds like some woo bullsh!t but have you tried caster oil packs with a hot water bottle? I've started them in conjunction with the acupuncture, but when I was reading about them, a lot of people said it really helped with endometriosis naturally and helped break up the scar tissue and cysts. They're really cheap and I find them super relaxing anyway.

@choccrumpet no step away from the test, and pee on it tomorrow instead 🤣 I don't test because I just get depressed seeing blanks, more depressed than waiting anyway 😂

@Marvellouslymadmum I'm so sorry you're going through that, that's so crap. I had my first fertility referral appointment yesterday and it came through last minute after waiting over 4 months. Maybe yours won't take as long as that in reality? I really hope that will be the case for you.

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 I can't stop testing.. so of course I did one after you mentioned it 🤦🏼‍♀️ I can see something really faint BUT I've had lots of indents on these cheapies before so am not thinking much of it right now and it really is barely there and I like to imagine lines. Plus period is due tomorrow and I've been here before so will keep testing but need to see something stronger / pass my period first.

It's really hard to tell if there's colour in the first one.. and the second one isn't really showing up on camera as it is in person. Not sure how to feel.. I was convinced there would be nothing. Will try a frer in the morning.

@choccrumpet Thank you, I really hope something will come through sooner but I can't see it! I find it so hard to see lines on pics I can see a little one in first pic, let's hope it's not an indent!

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 I've no idea! I actually just wanted to try the soy Incase it helps and that's why I just thought I'd try a couple of months. Haven't read much about caster oil packs but have seen others mention it, I'll have a read later thank you

@choccrumpet I sure I can see something in the first photo even before clicking on it, fingers crossed for you!

Thank you both! @Marvellouslymadmum @hopingforababyh the second picture shows nothing which is annoying as there is something there in person 🙈 either way I'll test again in the morning. Wish I didn't know now so I wouldn't question it 😫

Morning ladies, like clockwork my period showed up this morning and the frer was negative so I'm not sure what yesterday's tests were about. So far I've been really crampy... quite painful at the moment, had to take a painkiller.

First cycle taking soy pushed my ovulation back a few days and I had a 35 day cycle which is about a week longer than what my cycles were before the last 3.. but my luteal phase seems to be sticking to 11 days so I think that's positive.

I'll try soy again this cycle cd2-6 with higher doses and see if that makes a difference.

Hope you're all doing okay today.

@choccrumpet oh no, that’s really disappointing. Ugh sorry AF day is always a crappy day. I had a very painful period my first cycle after acupuncture, I wonder if it’s linked? Maybe there’s more blood or a thicker lining from all the blood flow they try to bring to the uterus

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 I'm REALLY glad it came when I was expecting it to and first thing in the morning (woke me up around 5am) so I'm really thankful my body isn't messing me about. I wasn't expecting anything to happen this month so I'm a little disappointed but feel okay overall. Just want to get on with things and am reaaaally hoping my cycle length might change it's mind and shorten even just a little 😅 I'll let you know what my period is like!

Have you gotten your bloods done?

@choccrumpet I really hope its not too painful! Start of a new cycle. Did you ask your acupuncturist about taking supplements / thing like soy?

I'm not sure what is going on here, I got a positive opk today at cycle day 11, my cycle is the opposite of yours, getting shorter and shorter. I used to be a standard 34 days, but now I'm assuming with a 12 day luteal phase I'm going to be 24 days this month 🤷‍♀️ No ewcm either, despite mainlining grapefruit juice. Seems like it'll maybe be too short now, unless my luteal phase gets longer.

Also had an argument with my partner this morning, and we are meant to be going out tonight with friends. Right now I don't want to even look at him let alone have sex 😂

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 it's manageable so far, hoping the pain stops soon. Yes I did and she had no opinion on soy really, I don't know if she knows much about taking it for ttc vs menopause which she did know about. She saw no problem in me trying it again so I am. So no new info gathered there! She didn't mention any other supplements that might help ttc.

That's so strange, sounds like the soy might be helping your cycle in a positive way. I guess a short cycle isn't bad as long as the different phases do what they need to do. Do you think you'll take soy in your next cycle if this one isn't successful?

I'm sorry about that, it's typical these things happen on the wrong days.. do what you feel is right.

We normally start dtd on cd10 but with these longer cycles we get worn out 10 days or so later so I've decided we should start later this cycle and expect a later ovulation but hope for an earlier one. Am hoping this will be positive for us mentally 😅

@choccrumpet sorry af arrived for you, tests can be mean sometimes!

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 oh's can be so annoying! Mine felt ill at the wrong time last month 🙄 this month we will prob be out anyway as I'm just coming into fw and got a smear Tuesday, his sa Thursday (abstaining 3 days before) and my second Covid jab Saturday! So whenever I ovulate it prob won't make much difference 😑

@choccrumpet hopefully the pain does get better soon. I'm just really sorry, after seeing lines yesterday, its crap. Ah so about the same as mine then - will have no impact on the acupuncture and she sees no problem in continuing to take it.

I had to sit this month out on soy because of my blood tests, so I'll take it next month. My blood tests were rubbish, they just took general hormones, which were normal, but didn't test my AMH, FSH or progesterone. GP said that because I have been pregnant even tho it was well over six months ago, I don't qualify for any investigations or help in our area. Just told me to take increased iron, because we need double the normal baseline for fertility, so I am on 65 mg total including what's in my prenatal.

When is your fertility appointment booked for? You mentioned your referral had come through.

Ha no I'll grit my teeth and get on with it today, I'm sure he'll feel the same way 😂 I'll be more upset to miss this month.

That sounds like a good plan, its a real slog when it goes on for ages isn't it! As long as you're testing, you can focus it all then

@Marvellouslymadmum yup, they definitely can 😂 At least I can just be annoyed with mine, when yours was ill, I guess you had to be a bit sympathetic also!

I saw that on the other thread, but I still reckon you can make it work. If you can fit it in a couple times the day before the three days abstinence, and then immediately after the smear and semen test (as the egg survives for 24 hours) I reckon you'll still cover yourself even if it is the earlier ovulation date 🤞

@Marvellouslymadmum @A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 thanks both. I know it didn't show in the pic but the Tesco test had a good faint what looked like blue line but I also read those tests can be bad for false positives/indents so I'll never know. The only thing is when I've had my chemicals there's 1 symptom I almost always feel and that's shooting aches in my vagina, either in my cervix or uterus or maybe it's something else entirely. But I felt it this time everyday and thought nothing of it because the tests were negative but then yesterday's ones were a bit confusing so really don't know what it was.

Your GP sounds frustrating, it seems they all do their own thing and there's no common approach across the board. Can you try pushing for more blood tests?

I had my initial phone appointment this week, she didn't have any of my info so it was a general call, I'll be receiving a pack and have to do urine tests, multiple blood tests, my OH will be doing a SA and then I'll be doing a HyCoSy at some point too. It sounds like this'll take a while though as some have to be done during specific times of my cycle so appointments might be tricky to find. Once they get my previous results I'll have to do more specific tests like checking my bincornuate uterus and seeing if it needs to be corrected surgically etc. But I do feel relieved that we're finally in there and I'm doing acupuncture so am really hoping it's only a matter of time now.

My OH isn't happy about me using OPKs as they do affect me mentally but I'd also rather know than not, especially if taking soy so I will be using them this month, he just has to accept that 😬

@choccrumpet that sounds really positive with the amount of tests they'll be doing and hopefully they'll get to the bottom of it soon. Are those the day 3 and day 21 blood tests? Yes with this all going on and the acupuncture etc, its a matter of time now 🤞

We already had a private semen analysis booked in for my partner in a week or two, and I'll book in to get my bloods done privately on specific cycle days next month.

I completely agree with you about the opks, I'd rather know also. Especially as you had a later ovulation this month - they show when you can stop having sex, otherwise you might have stopped and missed it! Same for me here, I'm having a weird early one, wouldn't know otherwise

First cycle taking soy, I usually have 28 day cycles and last month for a fairly strong OPK on day 13.... day 14 today and negative OPK's. So I've either not ovulated this month or the soy has delayed ovulation. Not sure I'll use them again

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 to be honest she mentioned so many bloods that I can't remember them all but yes day 3 and equivalent of 21 were a few, although she said I'll do either 2 or 3 day 21 tests to make sure we capture the right results depending when I ovulate as it has been so late, something like on day 21, day 28 (my equivalent of 21) and day 30 something just in case. I should be getting a pack sent to me in the post so can let you know what else it mentions if you're interested.

It's good you're getting them done even if it is privately.

It's so important with ovulation I agree, otherwise what's the point if we don't even know! I sometimes think he doesn't fully understand the process 😂 as long as one of us does lol we've half a chance of getting there eventually.

@ploopypleepy that is frustrating! What days and dosage did you take? I think this is what happened to me but I think my dose was too low so I am trying again

@choccrumpet I only took 100mg day 2-6 as my cycles are regular I'm just not sure I ovulate as don't get any of the signs. Will see how it pans out over the next week or so x

@ploopypleepy I'm no expert on soy but could it be that the dose was too low? Or maybe it just didn't agree with you. Hopefully you still have a good cycle and will ovulate shortly 🤞🏼 it's always a risk with these things.. and again people tend to document the positive effects and not very much the negatives so the things we do see might be one sided.

@choccrumpet your doctor sounds on it, that's very exciting!

@ploopypleepy when I was looking at starting soy and on another thread where they'd all done a couple of cycles, they told me to take a larger and increasing dose. Anecdotally it seemed that they were getting a later ovulation with a lower dose. They told me to do a 100, 100, 150, 150, 200. But none of its an exact science, and I couldn't find any decent studies, so if its not working for you absolutely don't take next cycle. Hope you ovulate very soon though!

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 gp's won't test amh only fertility specialist but they usually do fsh and progesterone so I don't know why they won't do it for you! I wasn't feeling very sympathetic when he was ill lol we may be able to, I'm waiting for my new cb ov sticks to arrive so only have cheapies until then and forgot to do it this morning 🤦🏼‍♀️ so will try and remember tomorrow and just dtd when we can lol
I'm thinking of getting my amh checked with medichecks just so I know what it is as my fsh is pretty good for my age but apparently if you have high oestrogen (mine is waaaay over the maximum prob to do with endo) it can give you a false fsh 🤦🏼‍♀️
@choccrumpet our bodies are so confusing aren't they! I don't generally test unless af is late as I hate the negatives, part of me thinks I should because it's good to know about possible chemicals but I think they cause me even more disappointment so it's catch 22 really!

@Marvellouslymadmum I can imagine! I don’t think I’d have been either, but it depends how ill, and how little moaning there was also 😂

That sounds like a good idea, although the Medichecks tests are sounding pretty brutal what with the pinpricks to the fingers 😣 but st least you’ll know.

I don’t test either, depressing seeing blank tests, depressing spending money on tests, and worried to get excited and then it maybe not work out 😬

Are you all having a good weekend?

@ploopypleepy any news on ovulation?